A George Town mother who killed her three-year-old son in a drug-fuelled car crash has avoided jail, with a magistrate describing the tragedy as one of “enormous regret and shame”.
Cheyanne Taylor Logan-Radford, 26, broke down in tears in Launceston Magistrates Court as she was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for two years.
The crash, which happened in March 2024, claimed the life of her young son Kreed Copley.
Magistrate Simon Brown said Logan-Radford’s failure to correctly secure her children’s car seats was a catastrophic breach of parental responsibility that directly led to her son’s death.
He said the children were entirely dependent on her and her driving.
The court was told Logan-Radford had smoked methylamphetamine with a friend before driving her Holden Barina along Bridport Road, near Lefroy in Tasmania’s north, on the evening of March 22, 2024.
Her son Kreed and four-year-old daughter Amarnie were in the car with her.
The Crown prosecutor told the court Logan-Radford became drowsy behind the wheel, causing the car to veer onto the gravel verge and skid for 37 metres before hitting trees.
Kreed was thrown between the front seats during impact, suffering catastrophic head injuries when he struck the dashboard and car stereo.
A blood test later showed Logan-Radford had amphetamine levels of 0.7 milligrams per litre in her system. The magistrate noted drugs still appear to be an issue for her.
While recognising Logan-Radford’s genuine remorse and the psychological trauma she continues to live with, Brown said the need for general deterrence was paramount in cases like this.
“Your plea of guilty recognises that you brought about the death of your own child which has brought enormous regret and shame,” he said.
“Where you go from now lays in your own hands.”
Along with the suspended sentence, Logan-Radford was given a 12-month community corrections order requiring drug rehabilitation, a three-year driving ban and $1,100 in fines.
